1
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Condemi L, Mocavini I, Aranda S, Di Croce L. Polycomb function in early mouse development. Cell Death Differ 2024:10.1038/s41418-024-01340-3. [PMID: 38997437 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01340-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic factors are crucial for ensuring proper chromatin dynamics during the initial stages of embryo development. Among these factors, the Polycomb group (PcG) of proteins plays a key role in establishing correct transcriptional programmes during mouse embryogenesis. PcG proteins are classified into two complexes: Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and PRC2. Both complexes decorate histone proteins with distinct post-translational modifications (PTMs) that are predictive of a silent transcriptional chromatin state. In recent years, a critical adaptation of the classical techniques to analyse chromatin profiles and to study biochemical interactions at low-input resolution has allowed us to deeply explore PcG molecular mechanisms in the very early stages of mouse embryo development- from fertilisation to gastrulation, and from zygotic genome activation (ZGA) to specific lineages differentiation. These advancements provide a foundation for a deeper understanding of the fundamental role Polycomb complexes play in early development and have elucidated the mechanistic dynamics of PRC1 and PRC2. In this review, we discuss the functions and molecular mechanisms of both PRC1 and PRC2 during early mouse embryo development, integrating new studies with existing knowledge. Furthermore, we highlight the molecular functionality of Polycomb complexes from ZGA through gastrulation, with a particular focus on non-canonical imprinted and bivalent genes, and Hox cluster regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Condemi
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivano Mocavini
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Sergi Aranda
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luciano Di Croce
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.
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2
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Batki J, Hetzel S, Schifferl D, Bolondi A, Walther M, Wittler L, Grosswendt S, Herrmann BG, Meissner A. Extraembryonic gut endoderm cells undergo programmed cell death during development. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:868-877. [PMID: 38849542 PMCID: PMC11178501 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01431-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Despite a distinct developmental origin, extraembryonic cells in mice contribute to gut endoderm and converge to transcriptionally resemble their embryonic counterparts. Notably, all extraembryonic progenitors share a non-canonical epigenome, raising several pertinent questions, including whether this landscape is reset to match the embryonic regulation and if extraembryonic cells persist into later development. Here we developed a two-colour lineage-tracing strategy to track and isolate extraembryonic cells over time. We find that extraembryonic gut cells display substantial memory of their developmental origin including retention of the original DNA methylation landscape and resulting transcriptional signatures. Furthermore, we show that extraembryonic gut cells undergo programmed cell death and neighbouring embryonic cells clear their remnants via non-professional phagocytosis. By midgestation, we no longer detect extraembryonic cells in the wild-type gut, whereas they persist and differentiate further in p53-mutant embryos. Our study provides key insights into the molecular and developmental fate of extraembryonic cells inside the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Batki
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Hetzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Schifferl
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adriano Bolondi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Walther
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Wittler
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Grosswendt
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bernhard G Herrmann
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Medical Genetics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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3
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Policarpi C, Munafò M, Tsagkris S, Carlini V, Hackett JA. Systematic epigenome editing captures the context-dependent instructive function of chromatin modifications. Nat Genet 2024; 56:1168-1180. [PMID: 38724747 PMCID: PMC11176084 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01706-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin modifications are linked with regulating patterns of gene expression, but their causal role and context-dependent impact on transcription remains unresolved. Here we develop a modular epigenome editing platform that programs nine key chromatin modifications, or combinations thereof, to precise loci in living cells. We couple this with single-cell readouts to systematically quantitate the magnitude and heterogeneity of transcriptional responses elicited by each specific chromatin modification. Among these, we show that installing histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) at promoters can causally instruct transcription by hierarchically remodeling the chromatin landscape. We further dissect how DNA sequence motifs influence the transcriptional impact of chromatin marks, identifying switch-like and attenuative effects within distinct cis contexts. Finally, we examine the interplay of combinatorial modifications, revealing that co-targeted H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and H2AK119 monoubiquitination (H2AK119ub) maximizes silencing penetrance across single cells. Our precision-perturbation strategy unveils the causal principles of how chromatin modification(s) influence transcription and dissects how quantitative responses are calibrated by contextual interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Policarpi
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Munafò
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
| | - Stylianos Tsagkris
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Carlini
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
- Faculty of Biosciences, EMBL and Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jamie A Hackett
- Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy.
- Genome Biology Unit, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany.
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4
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Stötzel M, Cheng CY, IIik IA, Kumar AS, Omgba PA, van der Weijden VA, Zhang Y, Vingron M, Meissner A, Aktaş T, Kretzmer H, Bulut-Karslioğlu A. TET activity safeguards pluripotency throughout embryonic dormancy. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01313-7. [PMID: 38783076 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01313-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Dormancy is an essential biological process for the propagation of many life forms through generations and stressful conditions. Early embryos of many mammals are preservable for weeks to months within the uterus in a dormant state called diapause, which can be induced in vitro through mTOR inhibition. Cellular strategies that safeguard original cell identity within the silent genomic landscape of dormancy are not known. Here we show that the protection of cis-regulatory elements from silencing is key to maintaining pluripotency in the dormant state. We reveal a TET-transcription factor axis, in which TET-mediated DNA demethylation and recruitment of methylation-sensitive transcription factor TFE3 drive transcriptionally inert chromatin adaptations during dormancy transition. Perturbation of TET activity compromises pluripotency and survival of mouse embryos under dormancy, whereas its enhancement improves survival rates. Our results reveal an essential mechanism for propagating the cellular identity of dormant cells, with implications for regeneration and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Stötzel
- Stem Cell Chromatin Lab, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chieh-Yu Cheng
- Stem Cell Chromatin Lab, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ibrahim A IIik
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Abhishek Sampath Kumar
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Persia Akbari Omgba
- Stem Cell Chromatin Lab, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Yufei Zhang
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Vingron
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tuğçe Aktaş
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
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5
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Sato N, Rosa VS, Makhlouf A, Kretzmer H, Sampath Kumar A, Grosswendt S, Mattei AL, Courbot O, Wolf S, Boulanger J, Langevin F, Wiacek M, Karpinski D, Elosegui-Artola A, Meissner A, Zernicka-Goetz M, Shahbazi MN. Basal delamination during mouse gastrulation primes pluripotent cells for differentiation. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1252-1268.e13. [PMID: 38579720 PMCID: PMC7616279 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The blueprint of the mammalian body plan is laid out during gastrulation, when a trilaminar embryo is formed. This process entails a burst of proliferation, the ingression of embryonic epiblast cells at the primitive streak, and their priming toward primitive streak fates. How these different events are coordinated remains unknown. Here, we developed and characterized a 3D culture of self-renewing mouse embryonic cells that captures the main transcriptional and architectural features of the early gastrulating mouse epiblast. Using this system in combination with microfabrication and in vivo experiments, we found that proliferation-induced crowding triggers delamination of cells that express high levels of the apical polarity protein aPKC. Upon delamination, cells become more sensitive to Wnt signaling and upregulate the expression of primitive streak markers such as Brachyury. This mechanistic coupling between ingression and differentiation ensures that the right cell types become specified at the right place during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanami Sato
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Viviane S Rosa
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Aly Makhlouf
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Stefanie Grosswendt
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Olivia Courbot
- Cell and Tissue Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Steffen Wolf
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | | | - Michal Wiacek
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Alberto Elosegui-Artola
- Cell and Tissue Mechanobiology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | | | - Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz
- University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EL, UK; California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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6
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Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Jiang Y, Cai H, Liang J, Li H, Wang C, Hou J. Retinoic Acid Upregulates METTL14 Expression and the m 6A Modification Level to Inhibit the Proliferation of Embryonic Palate Mesenchymal Cells in Cleft Palate Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4538. [PMID: 38674123 PMCID: PMC11050043 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cleft palate only (CPO) is one of the most common craniofacial birth defects. Environmental factors can induce cleft palate by affecting epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNA. However, there are few reports focusing on the RNA modifications. In this study, all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) was used to simulate environmental factors to induce a C57BL/6J fetal mouse cleft palate model. Techniques such as dot blotting and immunofluorescence were used to find the changes in m6A modification when cleft palate occurs. RNA-seq and KEGG analysis were used to screen for significantly differentially expressed pathways downstream. Primary mouse embryonic palate mesenchymal (MEPM) cells were successfully isolated and used for in vitro experimental verification. We found that an increased m6A methylation level was correlated with suppressed cell proliferation in the palatine process mesenchyme of cleft palate mice. This change is due to the abnormally high expression of m6A methyltransferase METTL14. When using siRNAs and the m6A methyltransferase complex inhibitor SAH to interfere with the expression or function of METTL14, the teratogenic effect of atRA on primary cells was partially alleviated. In conclusion, METTL14 regulates palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation and cycle-related protein expression relies on m6A methylation modification, affecting the occurrence of cleft palate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhu
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Yadong Zhang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Yaoqi Jiang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Hongshi Cai
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Jianfeng Liang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Hongyu Li
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Jinsong Hou
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Y.J.); (H.C.); (J.L.); (H.L.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
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7
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Carvalho S, Zea-Redondo L, Tang TCC, Stachel-Braum P, Miller D, Caldas P, Kukalev A, Diecke S, Grosswendt S, Grosso AR, Pombo A. SRRM2 splicing factor modulates cell fate in early development. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060415. [PMID: 38656788 PMCID: PMC11070786 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryo development is an orchestrated process that relies on tight regulation of gene expression to guide cell differentiation and fate decisions. The Srrm2 splicing factor has recently been implicated in developmental disorders and diseases, but its role in early mammalian development remains unexplored. Here, we show that Srrm2 dosage is critical for maintaining embryonic stem cell pluripotency and cell identity. Srrm2 heterozygosity promotes loss of stemness, characterised by the coexistence of cells expressing naive and formative pluripotency markers, together with extensive changes in gene expression, including genes regulated by serum-response transcription factor (SRF) and differentiation-related genes. Depletion of Srrm2 by RNA interference in embryonic stem cells shows that the earliest effects of Srrm2 heterozygosity are specific alternative splicing events on a small number of genes, followed by expression changes in metabolism and differentiation-related genes. Our findings unveil molecular and cellular roles of Srrm2 in stemness and lineage commitment, shedding light on the roles of splicing regulators in early embryogenesis, developmental diseases and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Carvalho
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology (GABBA), ICBAS, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luna Zea-Redondo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tsz Ching Chloe Tang
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Stachel-Braum
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Exploratory Diagnostic Sciences (EDS) 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), From Cell State to Function Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Duncan Miller
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Pluripotent Stem Cells Platform, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paulo Caldas
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Alexander Kukalev
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Diecke
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Pluripotent Stem Cells Platform, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Grosswendt
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Exploratory Diagnostic Sciences (EDS) 10178 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), From Cell State to Function Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ana Rita Grosso
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana Pombo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), Epigenetic Regulation and Chromatin Structure Group, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Biology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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8
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Rüegg AB, van der Weijden VA, de Sousa JA, von Meyenn F, Pausch H, Ulbrich SE. Developmental progression continues during embryonic diapause in the roe deer. Commun Biol 2024; 7:270. [PMID: 38443549 PMCID: PMC10914810 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05944-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Embryonic diapause in mammals is a temporary developmental delay occurring at the blastocyst stage. In contrast to other diapausing species displaying a full arrest, the blastocyst of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) proliferates continuously and displays considerable morphological changes in the inner cell mass. We hypothesised that developmental progression also continues during this period. Here we evaluate the mRNA abundance of developmental marker genes in embryos during diapause and elongation. Our results show that morphological rearrangements of the epiblast during diapause correlate with gene expression patterns and changes in cell polarity. Immunohistochemical staining further supports these findings. Primitive endoderm formation occurs during diapause in embryos composed of around 3,000 cells. Gastrulation coincides with elongation and thus takes place after embryo reactivation. The slow developmental progression makes the roe deer an interesting model for unravelling the link between proliferation and differentiation and requirements for embryo survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna B Rüegg
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vera A van der Weijden
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - João Agostinho de Sousa
- ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ferdinand von Meyenn
- ETH Zurich, Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolic Epigenetics, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hubert Pausch
- ETH Zurich, Animal Genomics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne E Ulbrich
- ETH Zurich, Animal Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland.
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9
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Lim B, Domsch K, Mall M, Lohmann I. Canalizing cell fate by transcriptional repression. Mol Syst Biol 2024; 20:144-161. [PMID: 38302581 PMCID: PMC10912439 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-024-00014-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Precision in the establishment and maintenance of cellular identities is crucial for the development of multicellular organisms and requires tight regulation of gene expression. While extensive research has focused on understanding cell type-specific gene activation, the complex mechanisms underlying the transcriptional repression of alternative fates are not fully understood. Here, we provide an overview of the repressive mechanisms involved in cell fate regulation. We discuss the molecular machinery responsible for suppressing alternative fates and highlight the crucial role of sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) in this process. Depletion of these TFs can result in unwanted gene expression and increased cellular plasticity. We suggest that these TFs recruit cell type-specific repressive complexes to their cis-regulatory elements, enabling them to modulate chromatin accessibility in a context-dependent manner. This modulation effectively suppresses master regulators of alternative fate programs and their downstream targets. The modularity and dynamic behavior of these repressive complexes enables a limited number of repressors to canalize and maintain major and minor cell fate decisions at different stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce Lim
- Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- HITBR Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research gGmbH, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Katrin Domsch
- Heidelberg University, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Department of Developmental Biology and Cell Networks - Cluster of Excellence, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Moritz Mall
- Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- HITBR Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research gGmbH, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Ingrid Lohmann
- Heidelberg University, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Department of Developmental Biology and Cell Networks - Cluster of Excellence, Heidelberg, Germany.
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10
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Malcore RM, Kalantry S. A Comparative Analysis of Mouse Imprinted and Random X-Chromosome Inactivation. EPIGENOMES 2024; 8:8. [PMID: 38390899 PMCID: PMC10885068 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes8010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammalian sexes are distinguished by the X and Y chromosomes. Whereas males harbor one X and one Y chromosome, females harbor two X chromosomes. To equalize X-linked gene expression between the sexes, therian mammals have evolved X-chromosome inactivation as a dosage compensation mechanism. During X-inactivation, most genes on one of the two X chromosomes in females are transcriptionally silenced, thus equalizing X-linked gene expression between the sexes. Two forms of X-inactivation characterize eutherian mammals, imprinted and random. Imprinted X-inactivation is defined by the exclusive inactivation of the paternal X chromosome in all cells, whereas random X-inactivation results in the silencing of genes on either the paternal or maternal X chromosome in individual cells. Both forms of X-inactivation have been studied intensively in the mouse model system, which undergoes both imprinted and random X-inactivation early in embryonic development. Stable imprinted and random X-inactivation requires the induction of the Xist long non-coding RNA. Following its induction, Xist RNA recruits proteins and complexes that silence genes on the inactive-X. In this review, we present a current understanding of the mechanisms of Xist RNA induction, and, separately, the establishment and maintenance of gene silencing on the inactive-X by Xist RNA during imprinted and random X-inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sundeep Kalantry
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
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11
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Imaz-Rosshandler I, Rode C, Guibentif C, Harland LTG, Ton MLN, Dhapola P, Keitley D, Argelaguet R, Calero-Nieto FJ, Nichols J, Marioni JC, de Bruijn MFTR, Göttgens B. Tracking early mammalian organogenesis - prediction and validation of differentiation trajectories at whole organism scale. Development 2024; 151:dev201867. [PMID: 37982461 PMCID: PMC10906099 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Early organogenesis represents a key step in animal development, during which pluripotent cells diversify to initiate organ formation. Here, we sampled 300,000 single-cell transcriptomes from mouse embryos between E8.5 and E9.5 in 6-h intervals and combined this new dataset with our previous atlas (E6.5-E8.5) to produce a densely sampled timecourse of >400,000 cells from early gastrulation to organogenesis. Computational lineage reconstruction identified complex waves of blood and endothelial development, including a new programme for somite-derived endothelium. We also dissected the E7.5 primitive streak into four adjacent regions, performed scRNA-seq and predicted cell fates computationally. Finally, we defined developmental state/fate relationships by combining orthotopic grafting, microscopic analysis and scRNA-seq to transcriptionally determine cell fates of grafted primitive streak regions after 24 h of in vitro embryo culture. Experimentally determined fate outcomes were in good agreement with computationally predicted fates, demonstrating how classical grafting experiments can be revisited to establish high-resolution cell state/fate relationships. Such interdisciplinary approaches will benefit future studies in developmental biology and guide the in vitro production of cells for organ regeneration and repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Imaz-Rosshandler
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Christina Rode
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Carolina Guibentif
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Luke T. G. Harland
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Mai-Linh N. Ton
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Parashar Dhapola
- Division of Molecular Hematology, Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniel Keitley
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Ricard Argelaguet
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK
| | - Fernando J. Calero-Nieto
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Jennifer Nichols
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - John C. Marioni
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Saffron Walden CB10 1SA, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Saffron Walden CB10 1SA, UK
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Marella F. T. R. de Bruijn
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, UK
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
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12
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Wilkinson AL, Zorzan I, Rugg-Gunn PJ. Epigenetic regulation of early human embryo development. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:1569-1584. [PMID: 37858333 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Studies of mammalian development have advanced our understanding of the genetic, epigenetic, and cellular processes that orchestrate embryogenesis and have uncovered new insights into the unique aspects of human embryogenesis. Recent studies have now produced the first epigenetic maps of early human embryogenesis, stimulating new ideas about epigenetic reprogramming, cell fate control, and the potential mechanisms underpinning developmental plasticity in human embryos. In this review, we discuss these new insights into the epigenetic regulation of early human development and the importance of these processes for safeguarding development. We also highlight unanswered questions and key challenges that remain to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irene Zorzan
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter J Rugg-Gunn
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK; Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, UK.
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13
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Ravid Lustig L, Sampath Kumar A, Schwämmle T, Dunkel I, Noviello G, Limberg E, Weigert R, Pacini G, Buschow R, Ghauri A, Stötzel M, Wittler L, Meissner A, Schulz EG. GATA transcription factors drive initial Xist upregulation after fertilization through direct activation of long-range enhancers. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1704-1715. [PMID: 37932452 PMCID: PMC10635832 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01266-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) balances gene expression between the sexes in female mammals. Shortly after fertilization, upregulation of Xist RNA from one X chromosome initiates XCI, leading to chromosome-wide gene silencing. XCI is maintained in all cell types, except the germ line and the pluripotent state where XCI is reversed. The mechanisms triggering Xist upregulation have remained elusive. Here we identify GATA transcription factors as potent activators of Xist. Through a pooled CRISPR activation screen in murine embryonic stem cells, we demonstrate that GATA1, as well as other GATA transcription factors can drive ectopic Xist expression. Moreover, we describe GATA-responsive regulatory elements in the Xist locus bound by different GATA factors. Finally, we show that GATA factors are essential for XCI induction in mouse preimplantation embryos. Deletion of GATA1/4/6 or GATA-responsive Xist enhancers in mouse zygotes effectively prevents Xist upregulation. We propose that the activity or complete absence of various GATA family members controls initial Xist upregulation, XCI maintenance in extra-embryonic lineages and XCI reversal in the epiblast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liat Ravid Lustig
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Abhishek Sampath Kumar
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Schwämmle
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilona Dunkel
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gemma Noviello
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elodie Limberg
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Raha Weigert
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guido Pacini
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - René Buschow
- Microscopy and Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Afrah Ghauri
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Stötzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Wittler
- Transgenic Unit, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Edda G Schulz
- Systems Epigenetics, Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Gattiglio M, Protzek M, Schröter C. Population-level antagonism between FGF and BMP signaling steers mesoderm differentiation in embryonic stem cells. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio059941. [PMID: 37530863 PMCID: PMC10445724 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The mesodermal precursor populations for different internal organ systems are specified during gastrulation by the combined activity of extracellular signaling systems such as BMP, Wnt, Nodal and FGF. The BMP, Wnt and Nodal signaling requirements for the differentiation of specific mesoderm subtypes in mammals have been mapped in detail, but how FGF shapes mesodermal cell type diversity is not precisely known. It is also not clear how FGF signaling integrates with the activity of other signaling systems involved in mesoderm differentiation. Here, we address these questions by analyzing the effects of targeted signaling manipulations in differentiating stem cell populations at single-cell resolution. We identify opposing functions of BMP and FGF, and map FGF-dependent and -independent mesodermal lineages. Stimulation with exogenous FGF boosts the expression of endogenous Fgf genes while repressing Bmp ligand genes. This positive autoregulation of FGF signaling, coupled with the repression of BMP signaling, may contribute to the specification of reproducible and coherent cohorts of cells with the same identity via a community effect, both in the embryo and in synthetic embryo-like systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Gattiglio
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michelle Protzek
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christian Schröter
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Department of Systemic Cell Biology, 44227Dortmund, Germany
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15
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Malla AB, Yu H, Farris D, Kadimi S, Lam TT, Cox AL, Smith ZD, Lesch BJ. DOT1L bridges transcription and heterochromatin formation at mammalian pericentromeres. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56492. [PMID: 37317657 PMCID: PMC10398668 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive DNA elements are packaged in heterochromatin, but many require bursts of transcription to initiate and maintain long-term silencing. The mechanisms by which these heterochromatic genome features are transcribed remain largely unknown. Here, we show that DOT1L, a conserved histone methyltransferase that modifies lysine 79 of histone H3 (H3K79), has a specialized role in transcription of major satellite repeats to maintain pericentromeric heterochromatin and genome stability. We find that H3K79me3 is selectively enriched relative to H3K79me2 at repetitive elements in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), that DOT1L loss compromises pericentromeric satellite transcription, and that this activity involves possible coordination between DOT1L and the chromatin remodeler SMARCA5. Stimulation of transcript production from pericentromeric repeats by DOT1L participates in stabilization of heterochromatin structures in mESCs and cleavage-stage embryos and is required for preimplantation viability. Our findings uncover an important role for DOT1L as a bridge between transcriptional activation of repeat elements and heterochromatin stability, advancing our understanding of how genome integrity is maintained and how chromatin state is set up during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aushaq B Malla
- Department of GeneticsYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Haoming Yu
- Department of GeneticsYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Delaney Farris
- Department of GeneticsYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
| | | | - TuKiet T Lam
- Keck MS & Proteomics ResourceYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and BiochemistryYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Andy L Cox
- Department of GeneticsYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Zachary D Smith
- Department of GeneticsYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
- Yale Stem Cell CenterYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Bluma J Lesch
- Department of GeneticsYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
- Yale Cancer CenterYale School of MedicineNew HavenCTUSA
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16
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Hoetker MS, Yagi M, Di Stefano B, Langerman J, Cristea S, Wong LP, Huebner AJ, Charlton J, Deng W, Haggerty C, Sadreyev RI, Meissner A, Michor F, Plath K, Hochedlinger K. H3K36 methylation maintains cell identity by regulating opposing lineage programmes. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1121-1134. [PMID: 37460697 PMCID: PMC10896483 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01191-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The epigenetic mechanisms that maintain differentiated cell states remain incompletely understood. Here we employed histone mutants to uncover a crucial role for H3K36 methylation in the maintenance of cell identities across diverse developmental contexts. Focusing on the experimental induction of pluripotency, we show that H3K36M-mediated depletion of H3K36 methylation endows fibroblasts with a plastic state poised to acquire pluripotency in nearly all cells. At a cellular level, H3K36M facilitates epithelial plasticity by rendering fibroblasts insensitive to TGFβ signals. At a molecular level, H3K36M enables the decommissioning of mesenchymal enhancers and the parallel activation of epithelial/stem cell enhancers. This enhancer rewiring is Tet dependent and redirects Sox2 from promiscuous somatic to pluripotency targets. Our findings reveal a previously unappreciated dual role for H3K36 methylation in the maintenance of cell identity by integrating a crucial developmental pathway into sustained expression of cell-type-specific programmes, and by opposing the expression of alternative lineage programmes through enhancer methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Hoetker
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Masaki Yagi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bruno Di Stefano
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Justin Langerman
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Simona Cristea
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lai Ping Wong
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron J Huebner
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jocelyn Charlton
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Weixian Deng
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chuck Haggerty
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruslan I Sadreyev
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Michor
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- The Center for Cancer Evolution, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- The Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathrin Plath
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Konrad Hochedlinger
- Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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17
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Braceros AK, Schertzer MD, Omer A, Trotman JB, Davis ES, Dowen JM, Phanstiel DH, Aiden EL, Calabrese JM. Proximity-dependent recruitment of Polycomb repressive complexes by the lncRNA Airn. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112803. [PMID: 37436897 PMCID: PMC10441531 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
During mouse embryogenesis, expression of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Airn leads to gene repression and recruitment of Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) to varying extents over a 15-Mb domain. The mechanisms remain unclear. Using high-resolution approaches, we show in mouse trophoblast stem cells that Airn expression induces long-range changes to chromatin architecture that coincide with PRC-directed modifications and center around CpG island promoters that contact the Airn locus even in the absence of Airn expression. Intensity of contact between the Airn lncRNA and chromatin correlated with underlying intensity of PRC recruitment and PRC-directed modifications. Deletion of CpG islands that contact the Airn locus altered long-distance repression and PRC activity in a manner that correlated with changes in chromatin architecture. Our data imply that the extent to which Airn expression recruits PRCs to chromatin is controlled by DNA regulatory elements that modulate proximity of the Airn lncRNA product to its target DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki K Braceros
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; RNA Discovery Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Mechanistic, Interdisciplinary Studies of Biological Systems, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Megan D Schertzer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Arina Omer
- Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jackson B Trotman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; RNA Discovery Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Eric S Davis
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jill M Dowen
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Douglas H Phanstiel
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Erez Lieberman Aiden
- Center for Genome Architecture, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - J Mauro Calabrese
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; RNA Discovery Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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18
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Sampath Kumar A, Tian L, Bolondi A, Hernández AA, Stickels R, Kretzmer H, Murray E, Wittler L, Walther M, Barakat G, Haut L, Elkabetz Y, Macosko EZ, Guignard L, Chen F, Meissner A. Spatiotemporal transcriptomic maps of whole mouse embryos at the onset of organogenesis. Nat Genet 2023; 55:1176-1185. [PMID: 37414952 PMCID: PMC10335937 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-023-01435-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal orchestration of gene expression is required for proper embryonic development. The use of single-cell technologies has begun to provide improved resolution of early regulatory dynamics, including detailed molecular definitions of most cell states during mouse embryogenesis. Here we used Slide-seq to build spatial transcriptomic maps of complete embryonic day (E) 8.5 and E9.0, and partial E9.5 embryos. To support their utility, we developed sc3D, a tool for reconstructing and exploring three-dimensional 'virtual embryos', which enables the quantitative investigation of regionalized gene expression patterns. Our measurements along the main embryonic axes of the developing neural tube revealed several previously unannotated genes with distinct spatial patterns. We also characterized the conflicting transcriptional identity of 'ectopic' neural tubes that emerge in Tbx6 mutant embryos. Taken together, we present an experimental and computational framework for the spatiotemporal investigation of whole embryonic structures and mutant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Sampath Kumar
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luyi Tian
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adriano Bolondi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Amèlia Aragonés Hernández
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Stickels
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Evan Murray
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lars Wittler
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Walther
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriel Barakat
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leah Haut
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yechiel Elkabetz
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Evan Z Macosko
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Léo Guignard
- Aix Marseille University, Toulon University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire d'Informatique et Systèmes 7020, Turing Centre for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Fei Chen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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19
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Klumpe HE, Garcia-Ojalvo J, Elowitz MB, Antebi YE. The computational capabilities of many-to-many protein interaction networks. Cell Syst 2023; 14:430-446. [PMID: 37348461 PMCID: PMC10318606 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Many biological circuits comprise sets of protein variants that interact with one another in a many-to-many, or promiscuous, fashion. These architectures can provide powerful computational capabilities that are especially critical in multicellular organisms. Understanding the principles of biochemical computations in these circuits could allow more precise control of cellular behaviors. However, these systems are inherently difficult to analyze, due to their large number of interacting molecular components, partial redundancies, and cell context dependence. Here, we discuss recent experimental and theoretical advances that are beginning to reveal how promiscuous circuits compute, what roles those computations play in natural biological contexts, and how promiscuous architectures can be applied for the design of synthetic multicellular behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi E Klumpe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jordi Garcia-Ojalvo
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Michael B Elowitz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
| | - Yaron E Antebi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
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20
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Liu Z, Chen Y, Xia Q, Liu M, Xu H, Chi Y, Deng Y, Xing D. Linking genome structures to functions by simultaneous single-cell Hi-C and RNA-seq. Science 2023; 380:1070-1076. [PMID: 37289875 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg3797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Much progress has been made recently in single-cell chromosome conformation capture technologies. However, a method that allows simultaneous profiling of chromatin architecture and gene expression has not been reported. Here, we developed an assay named "Hi-C and RNA-seq employed simultaneously" (HiRES) and performed it on thousands of single cells from developing mouse embryos. Single-cell three-dimensional genome structures, despite being heavily determined by the cell cycle and developmental stages, gradually diverged in a cell type-specific manner as development progressed. By comparing the pseudotemporal dynamics of chromatin interactions with gene expression, we found a widespread chromatin rewiring that occurred before transcription activation. Our results demonstrate that the establishment of specific chromatin interactions is tightly related to transcriptional control and cell functions during lineage specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Liu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Chen
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qimin Xia
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Menghan Liu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Heming Xu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Chi
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujing Deng
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Xing
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
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21
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McNamara HM, Solley SC, Adamson B, Chan MM, Toettcher JE. Recording morphogen signals reveals origins of gastruloid symmetry breaking. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.02.543474. [PMID: 37333235 PMCID: PMC10274695 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
When cultured in three dimensional spheroids, mammalian stem cells can reproducibly self-organize a single anterior-posterior axis and sequentially differentiate into structures resembling the primitive streak and tailbud. Whereas the embryo's body axes are instructed by spatially patterned extra-embryonic cues, it is unknown how these stem cell gastruloids break symmetry to reproducibly define a single anterior-posterior (A-P) axis. Here, we use synthetic gene circuits to trace how early intracellular signals predict cells' future anterior-posterior position in the gastruloid. We show that Wnt signaling evolves from a homogeneous state to a polarized state, and identify a critical 6-hour time period when single-cell Wnt activity predicts future cellular position, prior to the appearance of polarized signaling patterns or morphology. Single-cell RNA sequencing and live-imaging reveal that early Wnt-high and Wnt-low cells contribute to distinct cell types and suggest that axial symmetry breaking is driven by sorting rearrangements involving differential cell adhesion. We further extend our approach to other canonical embryonic signaling pathways, revealing that even earlier heterogeneity in TGFβ signaling predicts A-P position and modulates Wnt signaling during the critical time period. Our study reveals a sequence of dynamic cellular processes that transform a uniform cell aggregate into a polarized structure and demonstrates that a morphological axis can emerge out of signaling heterogeneity and cell movements even in the absence of exogenous patterning cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold M. McNamara
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Sabrina C. Solley
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Britt Adamson
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Michelle M. Chan
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
| | - Jared E. Toettcher
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544
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22
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Li Q, Lu J, Yin X, Chang Y, Wang C, Yan M, Feng L, Cheng Y, Gao Y, Xu B, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Cui G, Xu L, Sun Y, Zeng R, Li Y, Jing N, Xu GL, Wu L, Tang F, Li J. Base editing-mediated one-step inactivation of the Dnmt gene family reveals critical roles of DNA methylation during mouse gastrulation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2922. [PMID: 37217538 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38528-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
During embryo development, DNA methylation is established by DNMT3A/3B and subsequently maintained by DNMT1. While much research has been done in this field, the functional significance of DNA methylation in embryogenesis remains unknown. Here, we establish a system of simultaneous inactivation of multiple endogenous genes in zygotes through screening for base editors that can efficiently introduce a stop codon. Embryos with mutations in Dnmts and/or Tets can be generated in one step with IMGZ. Dnmt-null embryos display gastrulation failure at E7.5. Interestingly, although DNA methylation is absent, gastrulation-related pathways are down-regulated in Dnmt-null embryos. Moreover, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B are critical for gastrulation, and their functions are independent of TET proteins. Hypermethylation can be sustained by either DNMT1 or DNMT3A/3B at some promoters, which are related to the suppression of miRNAs. The introduction of a single mutant allele of six miRNAs and paternal IG-DMR partially restores primitive streak elongation in Dnmt-null embryos. Thus, our results unveil an epigenetic correlation between promoter methylation and suppression of miRNA expression for gastrulation and demonstrate that IMGZ can accelerate deciphering the functions of multiple genes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiansen Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xidi Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunjian Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng Yan
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Feng
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Bio-Med Big Data Center, Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanbo Cheng
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Beiying Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingyi Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guizhong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Luang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yidi Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Zeng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yixue Li
- Bio-Med Big Data Center, Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Naihe Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Liang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ligang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fuchou Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China.
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23
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Weigert R, Hetzel S, Bailly N, Haggerty C, Ilik IA, Yung PYK, Navarro C, Bolondi A, Kumar AS, Anania C, Brändl B, Meierhofer D, Lupiáñez DG, Müller FJ, Aktas T, Elsässer SJ, Kretzmer H, Smith ZD, Meissner A. Dynamic antagonism between key repressive pathways maintains the placental epigenome. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:579-591. [PMID: 37024684 PMCID: PMC10104784 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01114-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
DNA and Histone 3 Lysine 27 methylation typically function as repressive modifications and operate within distinct genomic compartments. In mammals, the majority of the genome is kept in a DNA methylated state, whereas the Polycomb repressive complexes regulate the unmethylated CpG-rich promoters of developmental genes. In contrast to this general framework, the extra-embryonic lineages display non-canonical, globally intermediate DNA methylation levels, including disruption of local Polycomb domains. Here, to better understand this unusual landscape's molecular properties, we genetically and chemically perturbed major epigenetic pathways in mouse trophoblast stem cells. We find that the extra-embryonic epigenome reflects ongoing and dynamic de novo methyltransferase recruitment, which is continuously antagonized by Polycomb to maintain intermediate, locally disordered methylation. Despite its disorganized molecular appearance, our data point to a highly controlled equilibrium between counteracting repressors within extra-embryonic cells, one that can seemingly persist indefinitely without bistable features typically seen for embryonic forms of epigenetic regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raha Weigert
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Hetzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nina Bailly
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chuck Haggerty
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ibrahim A Ilik
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philip Yuk Kwong Yung
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Stockholm node, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmen Navarro
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Stockholm node, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adriano Bolondi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Abhishek Sampath Kumar
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chiara Anania
- Epigenetics and Sex Development Group, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany
| | - Björn Brändl
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Zentrum für Integrative Psychiatrie gGmbH, Kiel, Germany
| | - David Meierhofer
- Mass Spectrometry Joint Facilities Scientific Service, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Darío G Lupiáñez
- Epigenetics and Sex Development Group, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany
| | - Franz-Josef Müller
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Zentrum für Integrative Psychiatrie gGmbH, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tugce Aktas
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon J Elsässer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Stockholm node, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zachary D Smith
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, US.
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24
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Al Adhami H, Vallet J, Schaal C, Schumacher P, Bardet AF, Dumas M, Chicher J, Hammann P, Daujat S, Weber M. Systematic identification of factors involved in the silencing of germline genes in mouse embryonic stem cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:3130-3149. [PMID: 36772830 PMCID: PMC10123117 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, many germline genes are epigenetically repressed to prevent their illegitimate expression in somatic cells. To advance our understanding of the mechanisms restricting the expression of germline genes, we analyzed their chromatin signature and performed a CRISPR-Cas9 knock-out screen for genes involved in germline gene repression using a Dazl-GFP reporter system in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). We show that the repression of germline genes mainly depends on the polycomb complex PRC1.6 and DNA methylation, which function additively in mESCs. Furthermore, we validated novel genes involved in the repression of germline genes and characterized three of them: Usp7, Shfm1 (also known as Sem1) and Erh. Inactivation of Usp7, Shfm1 or Erh led to the upregulation of germline genes, as well as retrotransposons for Shfm1, in mESCs. Mechanistically, USP7 interacts with PRC1.6 components, promotes PRC1.6 stability and presence at germline genes, and facilitates DNA methylation deposition at germline gene promoters for long term repression. Our study provides a global view of the mechanisms and novel factors required for silencing germline genes in embryonic stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala Al Adhami
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Judith Vallet
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Celia Schaal
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Paul Schumacher
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France.,Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), IAB, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anaïs Flore Bardet
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Michael Dumas
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Johana Chicher
- Plateforme protéomique Strasbourg Esplanade, CNRS, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Hammann
- Plateforme protéomique Strasbourg Esplanade, CNRS, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sylvain Daujat
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Michael Weber
- University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,CNRS UMR7242, Biotechnology and Cell Signaling, 300 Bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch Cedex, France
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25
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Abstract
The segmented body plan of vertebrates is established during somitogenesis, a well-studied process in model organisms; however, the details of this process in humans remain largely unknown owing to ethical and technical limitations. Despite recent advances with pluripotent stem cell-based approaches1-5, models that robustly recapitulate human somitogenesis in both space and time remain scarce. Here we introduce a pluripotent stem cell-derived mesoderm-based 3D model of human segmentation and somitogenesis-which we termed 'axioloid'-that captures accurately the oscillatory dynamics of the segmentation clock and the morphological and molecular characteristics of sequential somite formation in vitro. Axioloids show proper rostrocaudal patterning of forming segments and robust anterior-posterior FGF-WNT signalling gradients and retinoic acid signalling components. We identify an unexpected critical role of retinoic acid signalling in the stabilization of forming segments, indicating distinct, but also synergistic effects of retinoic acid and extracellular matrix on the formation and epithelialization of somites. Comparative analysis demonstrates marked similarities of axioloids to the human embryo, further validated by the presence of a Hox code in axioloids. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of axioloids for studying the pathogenesis of human congenital spine diseases using induced pluripotent stem cells with mutations in HES7 and MESP2. Our results indicate that axioloids represent a promising platform for the study of axial development and disease in humans.
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26
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Luo Q, Pui HP, Chen J, Yu L, Jannig PR, Pei Y, Zhao L, Chen X, Petropoulos S, Ruas JL, Wu J, Deng Q. Epiblast-like stem cells established by Wnt/β-catenin signaling manifest distinct features of formative pluripotency and germline competence. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112021. [PMID: 36848234 PMCID: PMC10026833 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Different formative pluripotent stem cells harboring similar functional properties have been recently established to be lineage neutral and germline competent yet have distinct molecular identities. Here, we show that WNT/β-catenin signaling activation sustains transient mouse epiblast-like cells as epiblast-like stem cells (EpiLSCs). EpiLSCs display metastable formative pluripotency with bivalent cellular energy metabolism and unique transcriptomic features and chromatin accessibility. We develop single-cell stage label transfer (scSTALT) to study the formative pluripotency continuum and reveal that EpiLSCs recapitulate a unique developmental period in vivo, filling the gap of the formative pluripotency continuum between other published formative stem cells. WNT/β-catenin signaling activation counteracts differentiation effects of activin A and bFGF by preventing complete dissolution of naive pluripotency regulatory network. Moreover, EpiLSCs have direct competence toward germline specification, which is further matured by an FGF receptor inhibitor. Our EpiLSCs can serve as an in vitro model for mimicking and studying early post-implantation development and pluripotency transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Luo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Han-Pin Pui
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Clinical and Translation Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 20092, China; Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai 20092, China
| | - Leqian Yu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Paulo R Jannig
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yu Pei
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linxuan Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Xingqi Chen
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sophie Petropoulos
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Medicine, Centre de recherche du CHUM, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Jorge L Ruas
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Qiaolin Deng
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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27
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Andrews S, Krueger C, Mellado-Lopez M, Hemberger M, Dean W, Perez-Garcia V, Hanna CW. Mechanisms and function of de novo DNA methylation in placental development reveals an essential role for DNMT3B. Nat Commun 2023; 14:371. [PMID: 36690623 PMCID: PMC9870994 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36019-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a repressive epigenetic modification that is essential for development, exemplified by the embryonic and perinatal lethality observed in mice lacking de novo DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Here we characterise the role for DNMT3A, 3B and 3L in gene regulation and development of the mouse placenta. We find that each DNMT establishes unique aspects of the placental methylome through targeting to distinct chromatin features. Loss of Dnmt3b results in de-repression of germline genes in trophoblast lineages and impaired formation of the maternal-foetal interface in the placental labyrinth. Using Sox2-Cre to delete Dnmt3b in the embryo, leaving expression intact in placental cells, the placental phenotype was rescued and, consequently, the embryonic lethality, as Dnmt3b null embryos could now survive to birth. We conclude that de novo DNA methylation by DNMT3B during embryogenesis is principally required to regulate placental development and function, which in turn is critical for embryo survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Andrews
- Bioinformatics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christel Krueger
- Bioinformatics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Bioinformatics Innovation Hub, Altos Labs Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Myriam Hemberger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Wendy Dean
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Courtney W Hanna
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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28
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Lauria A, Meng G, Proserpio V, Rapelli S, Maldotti M, Polignano IL, Anselmi F, Incarnato D, Krepelova A, Donna D, Levra Levron C, Donati G, Molineris I, Neri F, Oliviero S. DNMT3B supports meso-endoderm differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:367. [PMID: 36690616 PMCID: PMC9871038 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35938-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The correct establishment of DNA methylation patterns during mouse early development is essential for cell fate specification. However, the molecular targets as well as the mechanisms that determine the specificity of the de novo methylation machinery during differentiation are not completely elucidated. Here we show that the DNMT3B-dependent DNA methylation of key developmental regulatory regions at epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs) provides an epigenetic priming that ensures flawless commitment at later stages. Using in vitro stem cell differentiation and loss of function experiments combined with high-throughput genome-wide bisulfite-, bulk-, and single cell RNA-sequencing we dissected the specific role of DNMT3B in cell fate. We identify DNMT3B-dependent regulatory elements on the genome which, in Dnmt3b knockout (3BKO), impair the differentiation into meso-endodermal (ME) progenitors and redirect EpiLCs towards the neuro-ectodermal lineages. Moreover, ectopic expression of DNMT3B in 3BKO re-establishes the DNA methylation of the master regulator Sox2 super-enhancer, downmodulates its expression, and restores the expression of ME markers. Taken together, our data reveal that DNMT3B-dependent methylation at the epiblast stage is essential for the priming of the meso-endodermal lineages and provide functional characterization of the de novo DNMTs during EpiLCs lineage determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Lauria
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Guohua Meng
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Valentina Proserpio
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Stefania Rapelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Mara Maldotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Isabelle Laurence Polignano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Francesca Anselmi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anna Krepelova
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Daniela Donna
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Chiara Levra Levron
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Giacomo Donati
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Ivan Molineris
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy
| | - Francesco Neri
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy
| | - Salvatore Oliviero
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology & Molecular Biotechnology Center - MBC, Università di Torino, Via Nizza 52, 10126, Torino, Italy.
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Sp142 Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, Torino, Italy.
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29
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Wang J, Fang J, Feng M, Li L, Ma L, Zhao X, Dai Y. Inhibition of EED activity enhances cell survival of female germline stem cell and improves the oocytes production during oogenesis in vitro. Open Biol 2023; 13:220211. [PMID: 36695089 PMCID: PMC9874982 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian organoids, based on female germline stem cells (FGSCs), are nowadays widely applied for reproductive medicine screening and exploring the potential mechanisms during mammalian oogenesis. However, there are still key issues that urgently need to be resolved in ovarian organoid technology, one of which is to establish a culture system that effectively expands FGSCs in vitro, as well as maintaining the unipotentcy of FGSCs to differentiate into oocytes. Here, FGSCs were EED226 treated and processed for examination of proliferation and differentiation in vitro. According to the results, EED226 specifically increased FGSC survival by decreasing the enrichment of H3K27me3 on Oct4 promoter and exon, as well as enhancing OCT4 expression and inhibiting P53 and P63 expression. Notably, we also found that FGSCs with EED226 treatment differentiated into more oocytes during oogenesis in vitro, and the resultant oocytes maintained a low level of P63 versus control at early stage development. These results demonstrated that inhibition of EED activity appeared to promote the survival of FGSCs and markedly inhibited their apoptosis during in vitro differentiation. As a result of our study, we propose an effective culture strategy to culture FGSCs and obtain oocytes in vitro, which provides a new vision for oogenesis in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiapeng Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Xilingol South Road No. 49, Hohhot 010020, People's Republic of China
| | - Junxian Fang
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Xilingol South Road No. 49, Hohhot 010020, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingqian Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Xilingol South Road No. 49, Hohhot 010020, People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Li
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Xilingol South Road No. 49, Hohhot 010020, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixin Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Xilingol South Road No. 49, Hohhot 010020, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Xilingol South Road No. 49, Hohhot 010020, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfeng Dai
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Xilingol South Road No. 49, Hohhot 010020, People's Republic of China
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30
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Regulation, functions and transmission of bivalent chromatin during mammalian development. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:6-26. [PMID: 36028557 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00518-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Cells differentiate and progress through development guided by a dynamic chromatin landscape that mediates gene expression programmes. During development, mammalian cells display a paradoxical chromatin state: histone modifications associated with gene activation (trimethylated histone H3 Lys4 (H3K4me3)) and with gene repression (trimethylated H3 Lys27 (H3K27me3)) co-occur at promoters of developmental genes. This bivalent chromatin modification state is thought to poise important regulatory genes for expression or repression during cell-lineage specification. In this Review, we discuss recent work that has expanded our understanding of the molecular basis of bivalent chromatin and its contributions to mammalian development. We describe the factors that establish bivalency, especially histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2B (KMT2B) and Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), and consider evidence indicating that PRC1 shapes bivalency and may contribute to its transmission between generations. We posit that bivalency is a key feature of germline and embryonic stem cells, as well as other types of stem and progenitor cells. Finally, we discuss the relevance of bivalent chromtin to human development and cancer, and outline avenues of future research.
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31
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DNA methyltransferases 3A and 3B target specific sequences during mouse gastrulation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:1252-1265. [PMID: 36510023 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00885-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In mammalian embryos, DNA methylation is initialized to maximum levels in the epiblast by the de novo DNA methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B before gastrulation diversifies it across regulatory regions. Here we show that DNMT3A and DNMT3B are differentially regulated during endoderm and mesoderm bifurcation and study the implications in vivo and in meso-endoderm embryoid bodies. Loss of both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b impairs exit from the epiblast state. More subtly, independent loss of Dnmt3a or Dnmt3b leads to small biases in mesoderm-endoderm bifurcation and transcriptional deregulation. Epigenetically, DNMT3A and DNMT3B drive distinct methylation kinetics in the epiblast, as can be predicted from their strand-specific sequence preferences. The enzymes compensate for each other in the epiblast, but can later facilitate lineage-specific methylation kinetics as their expression diverges. Single-cell analysis shows that differential activity of DNMT3A and DNMT3B combines with replication-linked methylation turnover to increase epigenetic plasticity in gastrulation. Together, these findings outline a dynamic model for the use of DNMT3A and DNMT3B sequence specificity during gastrulation.
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32
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Salmen F, De Jonghe J, Kaminski TS, Alemany A, Parada GE, Verity-Legg J, Yanagida A, Kohler TN, Battich N, van den Brekel F, Ellermann AL, Arias AM, Nichols J, Hemberg M, Hollfelder F, van Oudenaarden A. High-throughput total RNA sequencing in single cells using VASA-seq. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1780-1793. [PMID: 35760914 PMCID: PMC9750877 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01361-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Most methods for single-cell transcriptome sequencing amplify the termini of polyadenylated transcripts, capturing only a small fraction of the total cellular transcriptome. This precludes the detection of many long non-coding, short non-coding and non-polyadenylated protein-coding transcripts and hinders alternative splicing analysis. We, therefore, developed VASA-seq to detect the total transcriptome in single cells, which is enabled by fragmenting and tailing all RNA molecules subsequent to cell lysis. The method is compatible with both plate-based formats and droplet microfluidics. We applied VASA-seq to more than 30,000 single cells in the developing mouse embryo during gastrulation and early organogenesis. Analyzing the dynamics of the total single-cell transcriptome, we discovered cell type markers, many based on non-coding RNA, and performed in vivo cell cycle analysis via detection of non-polyadenylated histone genes. RNA velocity characterization was improved, accurately retracing blood maturation trajectories. Moreover, our VASA-seq data provide a comprehensive analysis of alternative splicing during mammalian development, which highlighted substantial rearrangements during blood development and heart morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik Salmen
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Joachim De Jonghe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Tomasz S Kaminski
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Alemany
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | | | - Joe Verity-Legg
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Ayaka Yanagida
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Timo N Kohler
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicholas Battich
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Floris van den Brekel
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Anna L Ellermann
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alfonso Martinez Arias
- Systems Bioengineering, DCEXS, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88 ICREA (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jennifer Nichols
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin Hemberg
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Alexander van Oudenaarden
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW (Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) and University Medical Center, Utrecht, Netherlands.
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands.
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33
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Schwaiger M, Andrikou C, Dnyansagar R, Murguia PF, Paganos P, Voronov D, Zimmermann B, Lebedeva T, Schmidt HA, Genikhovich G, Benvenuto G, Arnone MI, Technau U. An ancestral Wnt-Brachyury feedback loop in axial patterning and recruitment of mesoderm-determining target genes. Nat Ecol Evol 2022; 6:1921-1939. [PMID: 36396969 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01905-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factors are crucial drivers of cellular differentiation during animal development and often share ancient evolutionary origins. The T-box transcription factor Brachyury plays a pivotal role as an early mesoderm determinant and neural repressor in vertebrates; yet, the ancestral function and key evolutionary transitions of the role of this transcription factor remain obscure. Here, we present a genome-wide target-gene screen using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, an early branching non-bilaterian, and the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, a representative of the sister lineage of chordates. Our analysis reveals an ancestral gene regulatory feedback loop connecting Brachyury, FoxA and canonical Wnt signalling involved in axial patterning that predates the cnidarian-bilaterian split about 700 million years ago. Surprisingly, we also found that part of the gene regulatory network controlling the fate of neuromesodermal progenitors in vertebrates was already present in the common ancestor of cnidarians and bilaterians. However, while several endodermal and neuronal Brachyury target genes are ancestrally shared, hardly any of the key mesodermal downstream targets in vertebrates are found in the sea anemone or the sea urchin. Our study suggests that a limited number of target genes involved in mesoderm formation were newly acquired in the vertebrate lineage, leading to a dramatic shift in the function of this ancestral developmental regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Schwaiger
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences,University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Andrikou
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rohit Dnyansagar
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences,University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patricio Ferrer Murguia
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences,University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Danila Voronov
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, Naples, Italy
| | - Bob Zimmermann
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences,University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tatiana Lebedeva
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences,University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Heiko A Schmidt
- Center for Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Grigory Genikhovich
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences,University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Ulrich Technau
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences,University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Research Platform 'Single Cell Regulation of Stem Cells', University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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34
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López-Anguita N, Gassaloglu SI, Stötzel M, Bolondi A, Conkar D, Typou M, Buschow R, Veenvliet JV, Bulut-Karslioglu A. Hypoxia induces an early primitive streak signature, enhancing spontaneous elongation and lineage representation in gastruloids. Development 2022; 149:276626. [PMID: 36102628 PMCID: PMC9578691 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The cellular microenvironment, together with intrinsic regulators, shapes stem cell identity and differentiation capacity. Mammalian early embryos are exposed to hypoxia in vivo and appear to benefit from hypoxic culture in vitro. Yet, how hypoxia influences stem cell transcriptional networks and lineage choices remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the molecular effects of acute and prolonged hypoxia on embryonic and extra-embryonic stem cells as well as the functional impact on differentiation potential. We find a temporal and cell type-specific transcriptional response including an early primitive streak signature in hypoxic embryonic stem cells mediated by HIF1α. Using a 3D gastruloid differentiation model, we show that hypoxia-induced T expression enables symmetry breaking and axial elongation in the absence of exogenous WNT activation. When combined with exogenous WNT activation, hypoxia enhances lineage representation in gastruloids, as demonstrated by highly enriched signatures of gut endoderm, notochord, neuromesodermal progenitors and somites. Our findings directly link the microenvironment to stem cell function and provide a rationale supportive of applying physiological conditions in models of embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia López-Anguita
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin 2 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Seher Ipek Gassaloglu
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics 3 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
| | - Maximilian Stötzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin 2 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Adriano Bolondi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin 2 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Deniz Conkar
- Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics 3 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
| | - Marina Typou
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
- Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace 4 , 681 00 Alexandroupoli , Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, International Hellenic University 5 , 570 01, Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - René Buschow
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
| | - Jesse V. Veenvliet
- Stembryogenesis Lab, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics 3 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, Technische Universität Dresden 6 , 01307 Dresden , Germany
| | - Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics 1 , 14195 Berlin , Germany
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35
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Ringel AR, Szabo Q, Chiariello AM, Chudzik K, Schöpflin R, Rothe P, Mattei AL, Zehnder T, Harnett D, Laupert V, Bianco S, Hetzel S, Glaser J, Phan MHQ, Schindler M, Ibrahim DM, Paliou C, Esposito A, Prada-Medina CA, Haas SA, Giere P, Vingron M, Wittler L, Meissner A, Nicodemi M, Cavalli G, Bantignies F, Mundlos S, Robson MI. Repression and 3D-restructuring resolves regulatory conflicts in evolutionarily rearranged genomes. Cell 2022; 185:3689-3704.e21. [PMID: 36179666 PMCID: PMC9567273 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory landscapes drive complex developmental gene expression, but it remains unclear how their integrity is maintained when incorporating novel genes and functions during evolution. Here, we investigated how a placental mammal-specific gene, Zfp42, emerged in an ancient vertebrate topologically associated domain (TAD) without adopting or disrupting the conserved expression of its gene, Fat1. In ESCs, physical TAD partitioning separates Zfp42 and Fat1 with distinct local enhancers that drive their independent expression. This separation is driven by chromatin activity and not CTCF/cohesin. In contrast, in embryonic limbs, inactive Zfp42 shares Fat1's intact TAD without responding to active Fat1 enhancers. However, neither Fat1 enhancer-incompatibility nor nuclear envelope-attachment account for Zfp42's unresponsiveness. Rather, Zfp42's promoter is rendered inert to enhancers by context-dependent DNA methylation. Thus, diverse mechanisms enabled the integration of independent Zfp42 regulation in the Fat1 locus. Critically, such regulatory complexity appears common in evolution as, genome wide, most TADs contain multiple independently expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessa R Ringel
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Quentin Szabo
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrea M Chiariello
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Konrad Chudzik
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Schöpflin
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patricia Rothe
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra L Mattei
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tobias Zehnder
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dermot Harnett
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena Laupert
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simona Bianco
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Sara Hetzel
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Glaser
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mai H Q Phan
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT-Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Magdalena Schindler
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel M Ibrahim
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT-Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christina Paliou
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Andrea Esposito
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy
| | - Cesar A Prada-Medina
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stefan A Haas
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Giere
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Vingron
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Wittler
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mario Nicodemi
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II and INFN Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, Naples, Italy; Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Giacomo Cavalli
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédéric Bantignies
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Stefan Mundlos
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, BCRT-Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Michael I Robson
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Medical and Human Genetics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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36
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Clark SJ, Argelaguet R, Lohoff T, Krueger F, Drage D, Göttgens B, Marioni JC, Nichols J, Reik W. Single-cell multi-omics profiling links dynamic DNA methylation to cell fate decisions during mouse early organogenesis. Genome Biol 2022; 23:202. [PMID: 36163261 PMCID: PMC9511790 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02762-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perturbation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and of the active DNA demethylation pathway via ten-eleven translocation (TET) methylcytosine dioxygenases results in severe developmental defects and embryonic lethality. Dynamic control of DNA methylation is therefore vital for embryogenesis, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. RESULTS Here we report a single-cell transcriptomic atlas from Dnmt and Tet mutant mouse embryos during early organogenesis. We show that both the maintenance and de novo methyltransferase enzymes are dispensable for the formation of all major cell types at E8.5. However, DNA methyltransferases are required for silencing of prior or alternative cell fates such as pluripotency and extraembryonic programmes. Deletion of all three TET enzymes produces substantial lineage biases, in particular, a failure to generate primitive erythrocytes. Single-cell multi-omics profiling moreover reveals that this is linked to a failure to demethylate distal regulatory elements in Tet triple-knockout embryos. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a detailed analysis of the effects of perturbing DNA methylation on mouse organogenesis at a whole organism scale and affords new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of cell fate decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Clark
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK.
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ricard Argelaguet
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK.
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Tim Lohoff
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Felix Krueger
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK
- Bioinformatics Group, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Deborah Drage
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Haematology, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John C Marioni
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jennifer Nichols
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
- Current address: MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Wolf Reik
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK.
- Altos Labs Cambridge Institute of Science, Granta Park, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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37
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Zhang H, Liu Y, Xie Y, Zhu Y, Liu J, Lu F. H3K27me3 shapes DNA methylome by inhibiting UHRF1-mediated H3 ubiquitination. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 65:1685-1700. [PMID: 35831553 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2155-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation and histone lysine tri-methylation at H3K27 (H3K27me3) are two chromatin modifications for transcriptional gene silencing, which play important roles in diverse biological processes, including cell fate determination and cell lineage commitment. These two marks are largely mutually exclusive and target distinct sets of genes in the mammalian genome. However, how H3K27me3 shapes the DNA methylome remains elusive. Here, we report that the loss of H3K27me3 modification leads to increased DNA methylation at previously marked H3K27me3 sites, indicating that H3K27me3 negatively regulates DNA methylation. Genome-wide analysis of H3 ubiquitination, essential for recruitment and activation of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, reveals the absence of H3 ubiquitination at H3K27me3 marked nucleosomes. Moreover, loss of H3K27me3 modification induces an increase in H3K18 ubiquitination at the corresponding hyper-methylated loci. Importantly, we show that H3K27me3 directly inhibits UHRF1-mediated H3 ubiquitination toward nucleosomes in a defined biochemical assay. Taken together, our findings reveal a general mechanism for H3K27me3-mediated shaping of the mammalian DNA methylome via modulation of H3 ubiquitination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yali Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yunji Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jingwen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Falong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Innovative Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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38
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Cheng S, Mittnenzweig M, Mayshar Y, Lifshitz A, Dunjić M, Rais Y, Ben-Yair R, Gehrs S, Chomsky E, Mukamel Z, Rubinstein H, Schlereth K, Reines N, Orenbuch AH, Tanay A, Stelzer Y. The intrinsic and extrinsic effects of TET proteins during gastrulation. Cell 2022; 185:3169-3185.e20. [PMID: 35908548 PMCID: PMC9432429 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mice deficient for all ten-eleven translocation (TET) genes exhibit early gastrulation lethality. However, separating cause and effect in such embryonic failure is challenging. To isolate cell-autonomous effects of TET loss, we used temporal single-cell atlases from embryos with partial or complete mutant contributions. Strikingly, when developing within a wild-type embryo, Tet-mutant cells retain near-complete differentiation potential, whereas embryos solely comprising mutant cells are defective in epiblast to ectoderm transition with degenerated mesoderm potential. We map de-repressions of early epiblast factors (e.g., Dppa4 and Gdf3) and failure to activate multiple signaling from nascent mesoderm (Lefty, FGF, and Notch) as likely cell-intrinsic drivers of TET loss phenotypes. We further suggest loss of enhancer demethylation as the underlying mechanism. Collectively, our work demonstrates an unbiased approach for defining intrinsic and extrinsic embryonic gene function based on temporal differentiation atlases and disentangles the intracellular effects of the demethylation machinery from its broader tissue-level ramifications. Chimeras with full or partial Tet deficiency are mapped over the course of gastrulation Tet-TKO cells disrupt signaling, leading to skewed whole-embryo mutant gastrulation Tet-TKO cells retain near-complete differentiation potential in a chimera context Loss of TET leads to pervasive hypermethylation and mildly perturbed gene expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Saifeng Cheng
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Markus Mittnenzweig
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yoav Mayshar
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aviezer Lifshitz
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Marko Dunjić
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yoach Rais
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Raz Ben-Yair
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Stephanie Gehrs
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elad Chomsky
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Zohar Mukamel
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hernan Rubinstein
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Katharina Schlereth
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Netta Reines
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Amos Tanay
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Yonatan Stelzer
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel.
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Hijacking of transcriptional condensates by endogenous retroviruses. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1238-1247. [PMID: 35864192 PMCID: PMC9355880 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01132-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Most endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in mammals are incapable of retrotransposition; therefore, why ERV derepression is associated with lethality during early development has been a mystery. Here, we report that rapid and selective degradation of the heterochromatin adapter protein TRIM28 triggers dissociation of transcriptional condensates from loci encoding super-enhancer (SE)-driven pluripotency genes and their association with transcribed ERV loci in murine embryonic stem cells. Knockdown of ERV RNAs or forced expression of SE-enriched transcription factors rescued condensate localization at SEs in TRIM28-degraded cells. In a biochemical reconstitution system, ERV RNA facilitated partitioning of RNA polymerase II and the Mediator coactivator into phase-separated droplets. In TRIM28 knockout mouse embryos, single-cell RNA-seq analysis revealed specific depletion of pluripotent lineages. We propose that coding and noncoding nascent RNAs, including those produced by retrotransposons, may facilitate ‘hijacking’ of transcriptional condensates in various developmental and disease contexts. TRIM28 depletion in embryonic stem cells disconnects transcriptional condensates from super-enhancers, which is rescued by knockdown of endogenous retroviruses.
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40
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Bolondi A, Kretzmer H, Meissner A. Single-cell technologies: a new lens into epigenetic regulation in development. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 76:101947. [PMID: 35839561 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The totipotent zygote gives rise to diverse cell types through a series of well-orchestrated regulatory mechanisms. Epigenetic modifiers play an essential, though still poorly understood, role in the transition from pluripotency towards organogenesis. However, recent advances in single-cell technologies have enabled an unprecedented, high-resolution dissection of this crucial developmental window, highlighting more cell-type-specific functions of these ubiquitous regulators. In this review, we discuss and contextualize several recent studies that explore epigenetic regulation during mouse embryogenesis, emphasizing the opportunities presented by single-cell technologies, in vivo perturbation approaches as well as advanced in vitro models to characterize dynamic developmental transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Bolondi
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin,14195 Berlin, Germany. https://twitter.com/@adrianobolondi
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany. https://twitter.com/@helenekretzmer
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin,14195 Berlin, Germany; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 02142 Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, 02138 Cambridge, MA, USA.
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41
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Janssen SM, Lorincz MC. Interplay between chromatin marks in development and disease. Nat Rev Genet 2022; 23:137-153. [PMID: 34608297 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-021-00416-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAme) and histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) have important roles in transcriptional regulation. Although many reports have characterized the functions of such chromatin marks in isolation, recent genome-wide studies reveal surprisingly complex interactions between them. Here, we focus on the interplay between DNAme and methylation of specific lysine residues on the histone H3 tail. We describe the impact of genetic perturbation of the relevant methyltransferases in the mouse on the landscape of chromatin marks as well as the transcriptome. In addition, we discuss the specific neurodevelopmental growth syndromes and cancers resulting from pathogenic mutations in the human orthologues of these genes. Integrating these observations underscores the fundamental importance of crosstalk between DNA and histone H3 methylation in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne M Janssen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Matthew C Lorincz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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42
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Carlini V, Policarpi C, Hackett JA. Epigenetic inheritance is gated by naïve pluripotency and Dppa2. EMBO J 2022; 41:e108677. [PMID: 35199868 PMCID: PMC8982627 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental factors can trigger cellular responses that propagate across mitosis or even generations. Perturbations to the epigenome could underpin such acquired changes, however, the extent and contexts in which modified chromatin states confer heritable memory in mammals is unclear. Here, we exploit a precision epigenetic editing strategy and forced Xist activity to programme de novo heterochromatin domains (epialleles) at endogenous loci and track their inheritance in a developmental model. We find that naïve pluripotent phases systematically erase ectopic domains of heterochromatin via active mechanisms, which likely acts as an intergenerational safeguard against transmission of epialleles. Upon lineage specification, however, acquired chromatin states can be probabilistically inherited under selectively favourable conditions, including propagation of p53 silencing through in vivo development. Using genome‐wide CRISPR screening, we identify molecular factors that restrict heritable memory of epialleles in naïve pluripotent cells, and demonstrate that removal of chromatin factor Dppa2 unlocks the potential for epigenetic inheritance uncoupled from DNA sequence. Our study outlines a mechanistic basis for how epigenetic inheritance is constrained in mammals, and reveals genomic and developmental contexts in which heritable memory is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Carlini
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy.,Faculty of Biosciences, Collaboration for Joint PhD Degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cristina Policarpi
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
| | - Jamie A Hackett
- Epigenetics & Neurobiology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Rome, Italy
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43
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Deng M, Chen B, Liu Z, Wan Y, Li D, Yang Y, Wang F. YBX1 mediates alternative splicing and maternal mRNA decay during pre-implantation development. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:12. [PMID: 35109938 PMCID: PMC8812265 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-022-00743-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In mammals, maternal gene products decay and zygotic genome activation (ZGA) during maternal to zygotic transition (MZT) is critical for the early embryogenesis. Y-box binding protein YBX1 plays vital roles in RNA stabilization and transcriptional regulation, but its roles remain to be elucidated during pre-implantation development. Methods In the present study, we re-analyzed transcriptional level of YBX1 in mice, human, bovine, and goat embryos using public RNA-seq datasets. We further performed siRNA microinjection to knock down the expression of YBX1, and RNA sequencing of the 8-cell stage embryos in the control and YBX1 knockdown group. To reveal the regulation mechanisms of YBX1, we conducted differentially expression analysis, alternative splicing (AS) analysis, enrichment analysis, and 5-EU staining using DESeq2, rMATs, clusterProfiler, and immunofluorescence technique, respectively. Results The expression of YBX1 was increased during MZT in goat, bovine, human, and mice, but significantly decreased in YBX1 knockdown embryos compared with the controls, suggesting successfully knockdown of YBX1. The percentage of blastocyst was decreased, while embryos blocked at the 2- and 4-cell stage were increased in YBX1 knockdown embryos compared to the controls. Using RNA-seq, we identified 1623 up-regulated and 3531 down-regulated genes in the 8-cell stage YBX1 knockdown embryos. Of note, the down-regulated genes were enriched in regulation of RNA/mRNA stability and spliceosome, suggesting that YBX1 might medicate RNA stability and AS. To this end, we identified 3284 differential AS events and 1322 differentially expressed maternal mRNAs at the 8-cell stage YBX1 knockdown embryos. Meanwhile, the splicing factors and mRNA decay-related genes showed aberrant expression, and the transcriptional activity during ZGA in goat and mice was compromised when YBX1 was knocked down. Conclusion YBX1 serves an important role in maternal mRNA decay, alternative splicing, and the transcriptional activity required for early embryogenesis, which will broaden the current understanding of YBX1 functions during the stochastic reprogramming events. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00743-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingtian Deng
- Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Baobao Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zifei Liu
- Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yongjie Wan
- Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Dongxu Li
- Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yingnan Yang
- Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Jiangsu Livestock Embryo Engineering Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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Su EY, Spangler A, Bian Q, Kasamoto JY, Cahan P. Reconstruction of dynamic regulatory networks reveals signaling-induced topology changes associated with germ layer specification. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:427-442. [PMID: 35090587 PMCID: PMC8828556 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating regulatory relationships between transcription factors (TFs) and target genes is fundamental to understanding how cells control their identity and behavior. Unfortunately, existing computational gene regulatory network (GRN) reconstruction methods are imprecise, computationally burdensome, and fail to reveal dynamic regulatory topologies. Here, we present Epoch, a reconstruction tool that uses single-cell transcriptomics to accurately infer dynamic networks. We apply Epoch to identify the dynamic networks underpinning directed differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) guided by multiple signaling pathways, and we demonstrate that modulating these pathways drives topological changes that bias cell fate potential. We also find that Peg3 rewires the pluripotency network to favor mesoderm specification. By integrating signaling pathways with GRNs, we trace how Wnt activation and PI3K suppression govern mesoderm and endoderm specification, respectively. Finally, we identify regulatory circuits of patterning and axis formation that distinguish in vitro and in vivo mesoderm specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Y Su
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Abby Spangler
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Qin Bian
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jessica Y Kasamoto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Patrick Cahan
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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45
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Williams LA, LaSalle JM. Future Prospects for Epigenetics in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Mol Diagn Ther 2022; 26:569-579. [PMID: 35962910 PMCID: PMC9626414 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00608-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of investigation into the genetics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a current consensus in the field persists that ASD risk is too heterogeneous to be diagnosed by a single set of genetic variants. As such, ASD research has broadened to include assessment of other molecular biomarkers implicated in the condition that may be reflective of environmental exposures or gene by environment interactions. Epigenetic variance, and specifically differential DNA methylation, have emerged as areas of particularly high interest to ASD, as the epigenetic markers from specific chromatin loci collectively can reflect influences of multiple genetic and environmental factors and can also result in differential gene expression patterns. This review examines recent studies of the ASD epigenome, detailing common gene pathways found to be differentially methylated in people with ASD, and considers how these discoveries may inform our understanding of ASD etiology. We also consider future applications of epigenetics in ASD research and clinical practice, focusing on substratification, biomarker development, and experimental preclinical models of ASD that test causality. In combination with other -omics approaches, epigenomics allows an improved conceptualization of the multifactorial nature of ASD, and opens future lines of inquiry for both basic research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan A. Williams
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA USA ,grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA ,grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA ,grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Janine M. LaSalle
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA USA ,grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Perinatal Origins of Disparities Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA ,grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684MIND Institute, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA ,grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
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Pastor WA, Kwon SY. Distinctive aspects of the placental epigenome and theories as to how they arise. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:569. [PMID: 36287261 PMCID: PMC9606139 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04568-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The placenta has a methylome dramatically unlike that of any somatic cell type. Among other distinctions, it features low global DNA methylation, extensive “partially methylated domains” packed in dense heterochromatin and methylation of hundreds of CpG islands important in somatic development. These features attract interest in part because a substantial fraction of human cancers feature the exact same phenomena, suggesting parallels between epigenome formation in placentation and cancer. Placenta also features an expanded set of imprinted genes, some of which come about by distinctive developmental pathways. Recent discoveries, some from far outside the placental field, shed new light on how the unusual placental epigenetic state may arise. Nonetheless, key questions remain unresolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Pastor
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.
- Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada.
| | - Sin Young Kwon
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
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Lohoff T, Ghazanfar S, Missarova A, Koulena N, Pierson N, Griffiths JA, Bardot ES, Eng CHL, Tyser RCV, Argelaguet R, Guibentif C, Srinivas S, Briscoe J, Simons BD, Hadjantonakis AK, Göttgens B, Reik W, Nichols J, Cai L, Marioni JC. Integration of spatial and single-cell transcriptomic data elucidates mouse organogenesis. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:74-85. [PMID: 34489600 PMCID: PMC8763645 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-01006-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Molecular profiling of single cells has advanced our knowledge of the molecular basis of development. However, current approaches mostly rely on dissociating cells from tissues, thereby losing the crucial spatial context of regulatory processes. Here, we apply an image-based single-cell transcriptomics method, sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (seqFISH), to detect mRNAs for 387 target genes in tissue sections of mouse embryos at the 8-12 somite stage. By integrating spatial context and multiplexed transcriptional measurements with two single-cell transcriptome atlases, we characterize cell types across the embryo and demonstrate that spatially resolved expression of genes not profiled by seqFISH can be imputed. We use this high-resolution spatial map to characterize fundamental steps in the patterning of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) and the developing gut tube. We uncover axes of cell differentiation that are not apparent from single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, such as early dorsal-ventral separation of esophageal and tracheal progenitor populations in the gut tube. Our method provides an approach for studying cell fate decisions in complex tissues and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Lohoff
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Ghazanfar
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Missarova
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - N Koulena
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - N Pierson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - J A Griffiths
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Genomics Plc, Cambridge, UK
| | - E S Bardot
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - C-H L Eng
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - R C V Tyser
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R Argelaguet
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - C Guibentif
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - S Srinivas
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - J Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - B D Simons
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- The Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A-K Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Göttgens
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - W Reik
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
| | - J Nichols
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - L Cai
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - J C Marioni
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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Dissecting the Complexity of Early Heart Progenitor Cells. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 9:jcdd9010005. [PMID: 35050215 PMCID: PMC8779398 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Early heart development depends on the coordinated participation of heterogeneous cell sources. As pioneer work from Adriana C. Gittenberger-de Groot demonstrated, characterizing these distinct cell sources helps us to understand congenital heart defects. Despite decades of research on the segregation of lineages that form the primitive heart tube, we are far from understanding its full complexity. Currently, single-cell approaches are providing an unprecedented level of detail on cellular heterogeneity, offering new opportunities to decipher its functional role. In this review, we will focus on three key aspects of early heart morphogenesis: First, the segregation of myocardial and endocardial lineages, which yields an early lineage diversification in cardiac development; second, the signaling cues driving differentiation in these progenitor cells; and third, the transcriptional heterogeneity of cardiomyocyte progenitors of the primitive heart tube. Finally, we discuss how single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics, together with live imaging and functional analyses, will likely transform the way we delve into the complexity of cardiac development and its links with congenital defects.
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Li Z, Lin F, Zhong CH, Wang S, Xue X, Shao Y. Single-Cell Sequencing to Unveil the Mystery of Embryonic Development. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 6:e2101151. [PMID: 34939365 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic development is a fundamental physiological process that can provide tremendous insights into stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. In this process, cell fate decision is highly heterogeneous and dynamic, and investigations at the single-cell level can greatly facilitate the understanding of the molecular roadmap of embryonic development. Rapid advances in the technology of single-cell sequencing offer a perfectly useful tool to fulfill this purpose. Despite its great promise, single-cell sequencing is highly interdisciplinary, and successful applications in specific biological contexts require a general understanding of its diversity as well as the advantage versus limitations for each of its variants. Here, the technological principles of single-cell sequencing are consolidated and its applications in the study of embryonic development are summarized. First, the technology basics are presented and the available tools for each step including cell isolation, library construction, sequencing, and data analysis are discussed. Then, the works that employed single-cell sequencing are reviewed to investigate the specific processes of embryonic development, including preimplantation, peri-implantation, gastrulation, and organogenesis. Further, insights are provided on existing challenges and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zida Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chu-Han Zhong
- International Center for Applied Mechanics, State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Shue Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Chemical, and Biomedical Engineering, Tagliatela College of Engineering, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, 06561, USA
| | - Xufeng Xue
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Yue Shao
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Department of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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50
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Gordeev MN, Bakhmet EI, Tomilin AN. Pluripotency Dynamics during Embryogenesis and in Cell Culture. Russ J Dev Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062360421060059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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